Abstract:

Advancements in electrochemical separation have paved the way for innovative approaches to address critical challenges in water treatment and resource recovery. In this seminar, I will introduce the Electrochemical Ion Pumping (EIP) platform, a transformative new approach to electrochemical separation that addresses the inherent limitations of conventional capacitive deionization and electrosorption. EIP leverages circuit-switching-induced ion shuttling to achieve unidirectional ion flux without solution switching, enabling enhanced desalination efficiency and scalability. I will also discuss the development of a theoretical model for dynamic ion transport in EIP systems, which provides critical insights into the unique behavior of ion shuttling mechanisms and informs the design and optimization of EIP for desalination. Finally, I will present a novel application of the EIP platform for simultaneous desalination and selective metal recovery from industrial wastewater. By precisely regulating electrode potential and switching frequency, the system enables targeted redox reactions for efficient metal recovery while performing desalination.